You've planned for your future. But who will help carry out your plans?
Estate planning involves more than preparing documents. It also means choosing the people who will take responsibility when the time comes.
Some people have family or friends who are ready to serve. Others don't have someone available, or simply prefer to appoint an independent professional.
Two fiduciary roles to consider
Successor Trustee
A successor trustee may step in to manage assets held in your trust when the circumstances specified in your trust occur and the trustee accepts the role.
Agent Under Durable Financial Power of Attorney
An agent may be authorized to handle financial matters that aren't held in your trust, depending on the authority granted in your power of attorney.
Actual authority in either role depends on the governing documents, the circumstances at the time, and applicable law.
Planning ahead doesn't mean giving up control.
Naming a professional fiduciary in your estate planning documents generally identifies who you want to serve if and when the circumstances described in those documents occur. It does not automatically give that person control over your affairs today.
Planning ahead gives you time to decide who you trust, communicate what matters to you, and build a relationship before help is ever needed.
The process
- 1
Initial conversation
A complimentary introductory consultation of up to 30 minutes to discuss your situation and whether planning ahead with a professional fiduciary may be a good fit.
- 2
Engagement & document review
Review of your estate planning documents and proposed roles, confirmation of fit, and establishment of a written engagement.
- 3
Getting to know your plan
Learning your priorities, important contacts, advisors and professional team, and support system, so your intentions are understood before they are ever needed.
- 4
Annual review
A yearly check-in to review important changes and keep key information current.
Staying current
After the initial engagement, an annual review helps keep important information current and gives us an opportunity to reconnect as circumstances change. The annual review is $350; additional assistance outside the review is billed hourly.
Clients who maintain their annual Planning Ahead relationship are not charged another New Client Engagement & Setup fee if an agreed-upon fiduciary role later becomes active.
Future service remains subject to Stephanie's ability to serve, the governing documents, circumstances at the time, applicable law, and an appropriate engagement and acceptance process.